Buckle and strap combination



Oct. 8, 1968 A w. M MURRAY 3,404,435

BUCKLE AND STRAP COMBINATION Filed May a, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR.

Az-f/wr MMCMWM Oct. 8,1868 A. w. MCMURRAY 3,404,436

uucxms AND STRAP COMBINATION Filed May 6, 1966 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,404,436 BUCKLE AND STRAP COMBINATION Arthur W.McMurray, 32 Brookdale Road, Cranford, NJ. 07016 Filed May 6, 1966, Ser.No. 548,283 Claims. (Cl. 24-168) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A buckle hasa frame with crossbars two of Which are in opposed relation and spacedapart in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the frame, whileanother is connected to one end of a strap. A slide is slidable betweensaid opposed crossbars of the frame and has inner and outer sidecrossbars providing strap-receiving spaces at opposite sides of saidopposed crossbars. The strap is threaded through said spaces and overone of said opposed crossbars, providing for gripping and releasing ofthe strap between said inner crossbar said one of the opposed crossbarswhen the frame is held stationary and the strap is pulled against saidouter and inner. side crossbars, respectively.

This invention relates to buckles and more particularly to slide bucklesor devices adapted to be mounted on straps, bands or the like for thesupport or fastening of garments or other objects.

In carrying out the invention in one form, a slide buckle is providedcomprising a frame and a slidable member which are disposed inlongitudinal slideable offset relation and provided with cooperatingcrossbars for clamping or pinching a strap portion threaded therebetweenin adjusted position upon relative longitudinal movement of the frameand slidable member.

More particularly, the frame is composed of a preferably but notnecessarily substantially rectangular body including a crossbarconstituting one side of the body and a pair of spaced flat crossbarsconstituting the other side of the body. The crossbars and end bars ofthe body of the frame define a single opening to receive a substantiallyrectangular shaped slide. The opening in the body of the frame is oflesser length than the width of the slide so that one of the crossbarsof the slide is disposed outwardly of the body and in a plane offsetfrom the planes of the crossbars constituting the pair of crossbars sothat a strap threaded over one of the crossbars of the pair ofcrossbars, through the slide and body and over the other crossbar of thebody of the frame will be substantially distorted out of the plane ofthe body of the frame and clamped or pinched between the frame andslide.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a buckle havinga substantially rectangular frame with a crossbar at one side with aninner surface and a pair of spaced flat crossbars at the other side, thecrossbars and end bars defining a single opening, the corners of theinside edges of the spaced fiat crossbars being sharp so as to cooperatewith a slide between said pair of crossbars which has side crossbars andan intermediate cross bar therebetween for clamping or pinching a strapthreaded between said pair of crossbars of the frame and one of saidside crossbars of the slide.

Still another object according to a further modification thereof is toprovide a frame for a buckle having a body substantially rectangular inconfiguration with a single crossbar at one side and a pair of spacedcrossbars at the other side, with means for preventing the collapse ofthe pair of crossbars.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide improved buckles ofthis type which are capable of wide application and adapted for use onstraps or bands of varying thickness.

It is also proposed to provide a simple slide buckle construction whichis inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble, readily threadable bythe user and which may be applied with a greater degree of reliabilitythan has heretofore been possible, to straps or bands widely varying inthickness without encountering slippage or difiiculty of adjustment.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects andadvantages thereof reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings and to the appended claims wherein the novelfeatures of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective disassembled view of a buckle embodyingone form of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the buckle in assembledcondition, taken through the center thereof, showing a strap extendingtherethrough in unclamped position, in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the parts of FIG. 2, on a reduced scale,showing the straps threaded through the buckle.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 ofFIG. 3, showing the parts in strap-clamping position.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the parts moved tostrap-adjusting position.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a buckle embodying a modified formof the invention.

FIG. 6A is a view similar to FIG. 1 of the form of buckle of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a buckle embodying still anothermodified form of the invention.

FIG. 8 is an assembled perspective view of the buckle of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

Referring now more in detail to the various views of the drawings, inFIG. 1 a buckle embodying one form of the invention is shown indisassembled relation. The buckle is formed of a suitably rigid plasticmaterial. Structurewise, the buckle comprises a frame 10 and a slide 12.The frame 10 has a body 14 rectangular in configuration. A crossbar 16substantially oval in cross-section constitutes one side of the body anda pair of opposed crossbars 18 and 20, spaced from each other to definea space 22, constitutes the other side of the body. Bar 18 is formedwith an enlargement or thickened portion 21 for a purpose to bedescribed. The inner edges of the cross-bars have sharp corners 24 asshown in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5. All of the crossbars are integrally joinedby end bars 26, 26. The crossbars and end bars define a singlestrap-receiving opening 28 in the body.

The slide 12 has a rectangular shaped body formed of cross-bars 30 and32 constituting the sides thereof and an intermediate cross-bar 34, Thecross-bars define a strapreceiving opening 36 between the cross-bar 30and intermediate bar 34 and a strap-receiving opening 38 between thecrossbar 32 and bar 34. The openings extend transversely of the path ofmovement of the slide 12, and opening 36 is Wider than opening 38. Bar30 is formed with a rib 40 projecting from its edge adjacent the opposedcrossbars of the frame, and along its front surface as viewed in FIG. 1,the crossbar 30 is formed with a projection 42 midway its ends. Thisprojection prevents accidental pulling dut or withdrawal of the slide,but is of such dimensions as to permit the slide to be forcefully pushedinto or pulled out of the frame. This projection also reenforces thecrossbar. The elongated edges of the crossbars have sharp edges 44 andthe crossbars are integrally joined by end bars 46, 46.

In use as a buckle, the frame is attached to an article or strap 48 asshown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the slide 12 is slidable through the space 22between the fiat crossbars 18 and 20 into the opening 28 in the body ofthe frame, leaving the outer crossbar 32 and opening 38 outwardly of theframe, the intermediate crossbar 34 under the bar 18 and the bar 30 inthe opening whereby the opening 28 provides a space on both sides of theend bar 30 of the slide, as best seen in FIG. 2. A strap 50 or thesupported article such as a brassiere, is looped around or secured inany suitable manner to the side crossbar 16 of the frame, for example,by stitching 52. The strap 54 is secured at one end to an article orobject with its free end 56 threaded upwardly as viewed in FIG. 2through the opening 38, passed over the enlargement 21 on crossbar 18 ofthe frame, downwardly through the space provided by opening 28 in theframe between the crossbar 18 and crossbar 30, over the shoulder 40 oncrossbar 30 and under the crossbar 30 and outwardly of the opening 28.The shoulder 40 presses the strap between the opposed crossbars 18 and20 and enhances the gripping or biting action on the strap of the edgesof the inner crossbar 30 of the slide and opposed crossbars 18 and 20 ofthe frame.

The looped end of strap 50 is wrapped around the crossbar 16 of theframe forming a resilient or fabric covering for the crossbar 16. Whenthe strap 54 is inserted through the opening 38 between the crossbar 32of the slide and crossbar 18 of the frame and the intermediate bar ofthe slide, passed over the enlargement 21 of crossbar 18 and downwardlybetween crossbar 18 and crossbar 30, and pulled in the direction of thearrow shown in FIG. 4, the slide 12 will move toward the frame therebyclamping the strap 54 between the sharp corner edges of the crossbars 18and 30 of the frame and slide, respectively. The frictional engagementof the strap assists in holding the buckle against slippage and thedistortion imparted to the strap by the shoulder 40 on crossbar 30insures that the strap will properly engage the bar 18 of the frame toprovide a pull up and tightening action when the strap is pulled in thedirection of the arrow in FIG. 4. The enlargement 21 of crossbar 18ensures that the portion of the strap between the crossbar 18 and thecrossbar 32 of the slide shall engage the latter at such an angle thatthe strap will exert a strong pull on the slide when the strap is pulledto clamped position in the buckle.

Shortening or lengthening of the strap may be accomplished by holdingthe frame 10 and exerting on the strap 54 a suflicient longitudinal pullin the proper direction to shorten or lengthen the strap to overcome theresistance to slippage offered by the slide. Another way of adjustingthe strap is to hold the buckle frame with its general plane at rightangles to the planes of the portions of the strap 54 at opposite sidesof the frame crossbar and pulling the strap in one direction or theother.

In FIGS. 6 and 6A, a modified form of buckle made of metal for heavyduty, such as a seat belt buckle, is shown. The buckle has a book-formframe 10, rectangular in configuration, and a rectangular shaped slide12.

The frame 10' is formed with spaced front and rear walls 60 and 62,respectively, as viewed in FIG. 6 and with a side wall 64, the otherside being open. Side wall 64 is formed with an elongated opening 22'.Both ends of the frame are open. Rectangular shaped openings 28', 28 areformed in the center of the front and rear walls 60 and 62,respectively.

The slide '12 is somewhat similar to the slide 12 of FIG. 1. Further, inslide 12', the openings 36' and 38 are of the same dimensions and inplace of the shoulder 40 of slide 12, the crossbar is tapered to a pointfor biting into the strap. In all other respects, the slide 12 issimilar to slide 12 and similar reference numerals are used to indicatesimilar parts.'

The buckle shown in FIGS. 6 and 6A functions similarly to the buckleshown in FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive.

Another modified form of buckle is shown in FIGS. 7

and 8. In this form of buckle, the frame 10 is somewhat similar to theframe 10 of FIG. 1 except that the opening 22 of frame 10 is interruptedby a bridge portion 64 forming a pair of openings 22" on both sides ofthe bridge portion. Furthermore, there is no enlargement on crossbar 18"such as the enlargement 21 on crossbar 18 of FIG. 1.

The completed slide 12" shown in FIG. 8 is formed from an invertedU-shaped or bail-shaped member 66 shown in FIG. 7, including a bightportion 68 and radial end arms 70, 70. In assembling the buckle, thearms 70, 70 are inserted through the openings 22", 22" and then benttoward each other to abutting relation, forming a split inner crossbar30" and a solid outer crossbar 32". There is no shoulder on the crossbar30 similar to shoulder 40 of slide 12 of FIG. 1. However, in all otherrespects, the buckle of FIGS. 7 and 8 is similar to the buckle of FIG. 1and similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts.

The buckle shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 functions in general the same as thebuckle of FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive.

When the buckle is formed of rigid plastic material it is desirable thatthe crossbar 30 of the slide have its inner edge, i.e., its edge nearerthe opposed crossbars of the frame, bowed or curved to compensate forthe bowing of the cross bar under tension when the strap is clampedtherein.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it will be understood that changes in details of constructionmight be made without departing from the principle of the invention andI desire therefore to be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a buckle and belt combination, a buckle comprising a frame havinga crossbar in spaced parallel relation to a pair of opposed crossbarsthat are spaced apart in the direction perpendicular to the generalplane of the frame, and end bars joining the crossbars integrally, saidcrossbars and end bars defining an opening in the frame connecting withthe space between said pair of opposed crossbars, and a slide slidablethrough the space between said opposed crossbars of the frame into andtransversely of said opening in the frame, said slide having spacedapart outer and inner side crossbars and end bars joining said sidecrossbars, the outer side crossbar of the slide being disposed outwardlyof said pair of opposed crossbars of the frame, leaving astrap-receiving space between itself and said pair of opposed crossbars,the inner side crossbar of the slide being disposed inwardly of saidpair of opposed crossbars and defining a strap-receiving space betweenitself and said pair of opposed crossbars, and a strap slidably threadedthrough both said strap-receiving spaces and over one of said pair ofopposed crossbars, said combination providing for the gripping of thestrap between said inner side crossbar of the slide and said one of saidpair of opposed crossbars when the frame is held stationary and tensionis applied to the strap in one direction to draw the strap against saidouter side bar and thereby pull the slide outwardly in the frame, andsaid combination also providing for release of the strap when the frameis held stationary and tension is applied to the strap in the oppositedirection to draw the strap against said inner crossbar of the slide andthereby pull the slide inwardly of the frame.

2. A buckle as defined in claim 1 wherein said one of said pair ofopposed cross bars of the frame has a projection beyond the generalplane of the frame around which the strap passes providing forengagement of the strap with the outer side cross bar of the slide atsuch an angle that the strap will exert a strong pull on the slide whenthe strap is pulled in the direction which moves the slide outwardly inthe frame.

3. A buckle as defined in claim 1 wherein the inner of said side crossbars of the slide has a projection to engage the inner surface of saidone of the pair of opposed I! cross bars of the frame to preventaccidental withdrawal of the slide from the frame.

4. A buckle and belt combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the innerside crossbar of the slide has a rib along the edge thereof nearer saidopposed crossbars of the frame for pressing the strap between saidopposed crossbars so that the strap is gripped between the edges of saidinner side crossbar of the slide and said opposed crossbars when thestrap is pulled in one direction, and said inner side crossbar has aprojection on the outer surface thereof adapted, when said buckle doesnot engage a strap, to abut said one of said pair of opposed crossbarsof the frame and prevent accidental withdrawal of the slide from theframe, and wherein said one of the crossbars of said pair of opposedcrossbars of the frame has a longitudinal enlargement on its outersurface over which said strap passes into the space between said outerside crossbar of the slide and the frame thereby to ensure that theportion of the strap between the outer side crossbar of the slide andsaid one of the pair of opposed crossbars shall engage the outer sidecrossbar at such an angle that the strap will exert a strong pull on theslide when the strap is pulled in the direction to grip the strap in thebuckle.

5. A slide buckle comprising a substantially rectangular shaped framehaving a body with front and rear spaced walls and a side wall, theother side of the body being open, said side wall having an elongatedopening therein,

said front and rear walls having aligned openings therein, and asubstantially rectangular slide having spaced inner and outer sidecrossbars slidable through said elongated opening and between said frontand rear walls, said slide adapted to be disposed with its outer sidecross bar outwardly of said side wall, with its inner side cross baracross the aligned openings in the front and rear walls of the framewhereby a strap may be inserted inwardly through the space between saidwall of the frame and the outer side cross bar, over the front Wall ofthe frame, downwardly through the aligned openings between the innercross bar of the slide and the edges of said openings in said front andrear walls and away from the frame, whereby upon application of tensionto the strap outwardly of said outer side cross bar of the slide, saidslide is slid in the frame and said strap is gripped between the innerside cross bar of the slide and the edge of at least one of saidopenings in the front and rear walls of the frame nearer said side wallof the frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1904 Sourek 24168 8/1958Gaylord 24-170

